But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. Acts 19:9-10
Paul ministered to the Jewish folks in the synagogues, preaching the kingdom of God. Let us not forget that the subject of “the kingdom,” and particularly “the kingdom of God” should have meant much, and been of particular importance to Paul’s mostly Jewish audience. After all, devout Jews in that day were looking for the Kingdom!”(Luke 2:25-26). But, as John tells us in John 1:11, Jesus “came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” Why not? (and this is true of all who do not receive Jesus, not just Jewish people in that day!).
The text reveals the one over-arching reason. Hard hearts. The hearts of sinners are hardened against Christ and the gospel. Why?
Because the unregenerate heart is “deceitful and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). The heart is deceitful, lying to us that if there even is a God, we do not need Him and that we are just fine on our own. The heart is wicked, loving our sin more than God, not needing forgiveness, and not about to surrender our wills to Him! Or as R.C. Sproul used to say, “We’re not that bad; God’s not that mad; so don’t be so sad!”
What is the only hope? Next time…